Handbrake no longer works

[Scotsman]

Hi

I took my 77 Spider 124 to a garage to have new brake pads and rotor on the back wheels. I also asked to have the handbrake adjusted because it only held on a shallow incline. After the service, the handbrake had been tightened but now no longer works at all. The mechanic says the cable had stretched too much, but it is in good condition. Also this doesn't seem to fit with loss of function when tightened more. He now says I may need new calipers. I told him about posts I had read here talking about the importance of adjusting the piston but he says he had to screw it all the way in to put on the brake pads and can no longer access it.

Can anyone suggest a remedy or tests that will identify the likely cause of loss of function? Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[bradartigue]

Sounds like he did a bad job. "He can no longer access it" - the kind of statement made by someone who has no idea what they did, or why, and I'd likely inform them I'll be taking the car elsewhere and canceling the charge to the credit card to pay a more competent mechanic. Access what?

That brake is simple, and if the calipers are new and the pistons were set correctly it has no choice but to work. Let's assume he didn't know how to set up the adjuster (which is under the car, under the brake, looks like a U with the two wires and adjustment nuts running to it).

Guys - and this is a blanket statement - you absolutely have to learn enough about the cars to instruct mechanics. Bring the service manual with you, copy the pages, leave it with them. They'll act like they won't look it, but they will as soon as you leave.

[Scotsman]

Hi Brad

I love in a small town with few mechanics. I did tell him about the adjustment of the piston and gave him an exploded view of the brakes and caliper. He said he had to screw the piston all the way in to get the pads on and could not adjust it after assembly because it was now obscured by the pads. Is this correct or is there still a way to adjust the piston?

I know about the adjustment at the Y. It has now been tightened to the max. The brake worked somewhat before the ""repair" when the handle pulled up 5 notches. After tightening to 3 notches it does not work at all. I am guessing the problem is at the caliper and the cable is not moving the piston. How can this be fixed?

[Scotsman]

The calipers were not replaced, only brake pads and rotor. I use Chilton and Haynes but do not have official Fiat manual. Would be very grateful if someone would post relevant section on rear brakes and handbrake.

My naive interpretation is that the handbrake cable is no longer activating the linkage in the caliper or moving the piston. How can this be tested or corrected?

Thanks

[azruss]

crawl under the car or with a camera, pull the e-brake and see if it is moving the arm on the caliper. If the arm is moving then the cable is working. The piston needs to be clocked to a certain position. Your repair book should give this alignment. Find out if the mechanic disassembled any of the caliper.

[TX82FIAT]

This may be a silly question. However, your rear brakes are working correct? If your rear brakes are working, then I would look real closely at the cable connections from the e-brake to the calipers.

[seabeelt]

A couple of things..... Well more than a couple. Brad is correct.. Take them the manuals/pages. Next, you have to screw the pistons all the way in to get the pads to fit, however, there is a groove that needs to be properly aligned before installation of the pads, next car needs to have axel weight to properly bleed the rear brakes, next, it sounds like he, the mechanic, has over tightened you e-brake cable if you get no clicks out of trying to pull it up. There is a procedure in the manual to properly set and adjust the e-brake cable, something like pull lever up x clicks, adjust cable until wheels don't turn, Something like that..... Get the manual..... Did I say that already.......Also of note is that even when fully functioning, the e-brake is not the best on an inclined surface. Just the way it is.

[bradartigue]

I wasn't trying to be condescending, but all of us need to go into these things with an "educate the mechanic" viewpoint. These aren't Porsches, there are few professionals who have ever seen these cars, and fewer who can work on them. They aren't complex, but any difference is enough to make a mistake.

[Scotsman]

After relying on Chilton and Haynes books on Fiat repairs for years I finally found a real Fiat manual made available on line by Nate. No excuses now for me or my mechanic. Bless you Nate!!!

[Scotsman]

Got my old bod under the car and adjusted tension per instructions in FIAT manual. Handbrake now works again!
What a difference having this manual available. 15 mins saved me the price of new calipers that my mechanic wanted me to buy.
Nate, I'd have a beer with you or better a wee dram of Glenlivet or MacAllan for making these manuals available.

Many thanks to all.

[narfire]

wee dram of Glenlivet or MacAllan

MacAllan?--McClelland? good stuff. I'm halfway through Glenmorangie 12 year Sherry cask. Good installation fluid I find....

Glad the brakes are sorted. As mentioned, they are usually not the best by themselves on a hill. The black plastic handbrake cover can with time slide up and over the release button as well.